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new : la
belle époque 
on first arriving in France
- driving
Motorway Aires
France is not England
Marianne - a French national symbol,
with French definitive stamps
the calendar of the French
Revolution
viaduct de Millau
the 6th
bridge at Rouen: Pont Gustave Flaubert,
new vertical lift bridge
Cathedrals in France
Futuroscope
Vulcania
the French umbrella &
Aurillac
the forest
as seen by francois mauriac, and today 
places and
playtime
roundabout art of
Les Landes
50 years old:
Citroën DS
the Citroën 2CV:
a French motoring icon
Grand Palais, Paris
Marianne - a French national symbol, with French definitive stamps
the calendar of the French
Revolution
Motorway Aires
le pique-nique
Hermès scarves
bastide towns
mardi gras! carnival in Basque country
what a hair cut! m & french pop/rock
country life in France: the poultry
fair
the greatest show on Earth - the Tour
de France
short biography of Pierre
(Peter) Abelard
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mediæval porch at Dax cathedral.
The subject is the judgement day, although Jesus, the judge, is missing.
Hover your mouse over different areas for information, see notes for more details.[1]
Apostles to the left of the mediæval porch at Dax cathedral
Hover your mouse over different areas for information, see notes for more details.[2]
Apostles to the right of the mediæval porch at Dax cathedral
Hover your mouse over different areas for information, see notes for more details.[3]
how many apostles?
Although traditionally there are twelve Apostles, they are chosen from a pool of sixteen, listed below. Each man has one or more symbols, which can vary, to enable their recognition. For those that were martyred (killed), one of the symbols will be the method of killing:
- Bartholomew: large knife, processional cross, human skin (he was flayed
alive).
- John the evangelist [gospel writer]: youngest apostle so shaven, book
(sometimes open), chalice with a dragon or serpent.
- (Simon) Peter: key(s) to heaven, triple cross, fish.
- James the Greater: pilgrim’s staff,
scallop shell/s, large pilgrim’s hat, book, scroll, sword.
St James was banished to the (then) furthest point from Rome: Compostella
on the tip of Spain, since then a popular christianist pilgrimage destination.
- James the Lesser: book, fuller’s club.
- Jude Thaddeus: medallion with profile of Jesus, boat, anchor, pen, book,
axe.
- Matthew: winged man, pen, inkwell, bag of coins, money box, purse, spear,sword,
halberd, lance.
- Philip: elderly man, basket of loaves, T-shaped cross.
- Simon Zealot: large saw, oar, two fish, lance.
- Thomas: builder’s T-square, spear.
- Judas Iscariot: noose.
Some of these apostles may be exchanged for:
- Mark the evangelist: book, winged lion.
- Luke the Evangelist: book.
- Mathias: lance. (Mathias was chosen by the other apostles after Judas betrayed Jesus.)
- Paul: cross-hilted sword.
The exchanges are:
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Judas may be replaced by Mathias
- Simon or may be replaced by Luke or Mark
- Mathias may be replaced by Luke or Mark
- Jude Thaddeus may be replaced by Paul.
some detailed notes on the portal at dax
Below is provided full details on the statuary in the photographs. Note that the statue positions within the archway are oriented as if facing outwards. Thus the ‘good guys’ (resurrected) are on the right (of Jesus/god) and the ‘bad guys’ (devils, cursed) are on the left. [The Apostle statues are not part of this classification.]
- Arch: virgins, saints and characters from the Old Testament
Within the arch, from top to bottom
• top row: two angels
• second row: space where Jesus statue is missing, flanked by two kneeling angels
• third row: Jesus’ mother, Mary; angel; St Michael [unrestored] weighing the souls of the faithful. To our right, a devil tries to upturn the scales; angel; St John. All the characters, except St Michael are imploring Jesus’ mercy.
• bottom row: Resurrection of the dead.
To the viewer’s left is the resurrection of the Elect: “Come ye, blessed of my father”. These leave their sepulchres with no difficulty and happily walk away to paradise.
To the viewer’s right is the resurrection of the Cursed: “Depart thee from me, ye Cursed”. These struggle to remove the tombstones, and are taken to hell by grinning devils. The faces of the cursed grimace with pain and fear.
In the centre, between the doors, is Jesus giving blessings with his right hand [damaged], and holding the Book of Doctrines in his left hand. One either side are statues of the twelve apostles.
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Statues of Apostles to right of Jesus [to the viewer’s left]
- Peter: holding a key in his right hand, the book of Judgement in his left.
- Andrew: holding part of a saltaire cross [saltaire: diagonally oriented]
- both hands missing
- facing away from Jesus, holding an open book - possibly Judas Iscariot
- left hand: a book, right hand: a staff - possibly James the lesser, or Luke
- Statues of Apostles to left of Jesus [to the viewer’s right]
- balding man, holding hammer (?) in right hand, open book in left hand - possibly Philip
- James the Greater: right hand lost (probably holding a staff), left hand holding a book, bag decorated with scallop shells
- John the Evangelist: youngest apostle (no beard), holding book decorated with a bird [probably an eagle] and four stars (?)
- right hand: staff, left hand: book, with cloak draped over hand and arm - possibly Matthew
- right hand missing, left hand as if holding/supporting something
- Thomas: holding builder’s T-rule
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